The 20 Greatest Driving Roads in the World

A great road challenges everyday notions, replacing the familiar–the dull grind of everyday commuting–with the epic: turns, terrain and landscape that adjust our perception of the world. But most of all, it elicits a thrill. These 20 mythic highways inspire us to hit the road.

Highway 1, aka "Big Sur"

Highway 1, aka "Big Sur"

Where: California, USA

This stretch of Highway 1 chases the ragged central California coastline through Big Sur, which runs from San Simeon to Carmel. This drive is renowned for its staggering views over perilous cliffs, revealing the Pacific Ocean's whitecaps as they rush past immense dark rocks.

During peak traffic hours, lumbering rental cars and motorhomes dampen the pace. If you're stuck in slow motion, we suggest a detour through the nearby but less-traveled Nacimiento-Fergusson Road, which cuts east and offers an amazing bird's-eye view of the coast below.

Deals Gap, aka "Tail of The Dragon"

Deals Gap, aka "Tail of The Dragon"

Where: Tennessee, USA

This stretch of U.S. Route 129 offers some of the sweetest curves outside of the Atlantic coast, with no fewer than 318 turns in the course of 11 miles. No driveways or intersections interrupt this forest-lined thoroughfare, though there are plenty of peg-scraping cruisers who knock down the average speed. While you're there, be sure to visit the Tree of Shame, where crashed motorcycle bits adorn the tree and dangle from its branches as a reminder of the road's dangers.